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5225 Grinnell Road

Welcome to 5225 Grinnell Road where one of our VAGC members wanted to show you, her garden. This garden is located walking distance to the other 2 featured on this year’s tour. Please check in with the VAGC members before viewing the plants. This is not a guided tour but a walk around the house yourself. This information here is to help to guide you throughout your tour. We have 4 different garden locations for you to see. As you get to each site, please find one of the VAGC’s volunteers to check you in with your ticket. You may use this information found here to assist you with each of the visits but feel free to ask any of the volunteers should you have a question. When I toured it, we looked in the front and then moved to the right of the house but you may go anyway you like. Please stay on the paths as you tour the garden.

Pictured here is the tour house you will be looking for.

After checking in you will see lots of plants. I have some here to help you with your walk around. Some I will not picture here but will list a few for you to make sure you see.

Take a look at this one. It is located in the front yard.

This is a Dypsis Lutescens commonly called an Areca Palm located in the front yard.

This plant is a fast-growing clumping palm with lots of little ones coming up once established. It can be used a lot for screening out areas. Easy to care for and can grow in full sun but prefers some shade. As with most palms fertilize 3 times a year with 8-2-12 fertilizer during February, May and September months. Water is only required here in Florida during very dry times.

After this view I moved to the right of the house to see many of the other plants.

This is a variegated ginger plant Alpinia zerumbet stunning tropical plant that is prized for its vibrant foliage and beautiful flowers with its striking green and yellow variegated leaves. This plant thrives in warm and humid climates which is perfect for Venice Florida. It prefers bright but filtered light rather than direct sunlight. Ginger prefers high and well-drained soil. Make sure your plant has drainage to prevent root rot. Avoid over watering as this will slowly kill this plant. Fertilize sparingly and prune as often as you like. A good pruning idea is never cut more than one third the plant height at any one time. Pests are fairly uncommon. You will see a bigger one to the left of the path before you actually get to this one.

Move on as you head to the back this plant can be found just past the variegated ginger.

This is the aralia balfour commonly known as a lemon lime. It is astriking houseplant with variegated foliage with green and lime green leaves. It thrives in bright indirect ight and prefers high humidety. Consistent moisture is beneficial for this plant and avoid over watering so allow for drying out between waters. Must have a well drained soil and a potting mix is preferred when planting it, make sure the mix contains perlite to enhance drainage. Temperatures preferred are 65-80 degrees F. and can be sensitive to cold drafts and abrupt temperatures. High humidity is desired. Use a 10-10-10 fertilizer during the growing months only applied every month March-October. Regular checking of the leaves is needed as it can get pests like spider mites and aphids. A gentle spray may be needed.

Move on around to the back of the house.

This plant is called pandanus utilis commonly called a screw pine. This novelty plant is not a pine or a palm even though it has a palm appearance. It is best used as a solitary plant as it gets rather large taking u [ 10 to 15 feet of space. This plant has wicked little red spines lining the edge of the leaves that can cut you. Running your hand one way is ok but the opposite way puts a nice cut into your hand. The name pine is derived from the pineapple like unique fruits borne on female plants that are edible. Mostly known for its slow growth it can take full sun to partial shade. Also zoned for 10 or warmer. It is drought tolerant as well as salt tolerant too making it a striking accent for a coastal property. Soil amendments are not required when you plant but water on a regular basis allowing for the soil to dry out and is drought tolerant. Fertilize 3 times a year using 10-10-10. Can also be grown in a pot very easily.

Continue your walk around the back and side finishing your tour back in the front yard after completing you tour all around the house. As you get to the front yard again, please take a look at this.

This is called a song of India called dracaena reflexa variegata. This plant with dense lance shaped leaves does not grow very fast but is an easy plant to grow in the Venice area. It grows as an evergreen plant and can become a bit large if not pruned back. It is nice because it keeps a nice dense thicket. Prefers bright to indirect light and ideal for indoors also. If indoors place near a window to get the sunshine. Prefers temperatures from 65-80 degrees and moderate humidity. Will survive temps below 60 degrees but does not like it. Soils should be well drained and if using a potting mix please make sure it has perlite in the mix. I have seen this plant used a lot in landscaping areas because of the variegated leaves and mostly used as a backdrop to smaller plants but in front of larger plants like palms. I understand it is easy to propagate as just whack off a 15-inch limb and stick it in the ground then with sunshine and water here it comes. Good luck.

There are many other plants that you should see as you walk around the yard that are not pictured here. Here are a few that you should see.

T bush, Arelia, Musical notes, Mango, Bromelias, Fishtail Palm, Queen palm, Song of India, zebra plant, Tractor seat, Claredendron, Angel trumpet in the front yard, Gardenia, Banana bush, Devil backbone, mahogany tree and white bird of paradise.

If you like, the VAGC has another tour located around the corner from this house as a matter of fact all three of the yard tours are all within walking distance of each other and so park your car and just walk to all three.

Glad you came by and hope you enjoyed the tour.